The Official Match Ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is expected to be announced in December this year.
1978 World Cup – the Tango
This 2010 official match ball will probably also become a collectors item like the black and white Tango from the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. It was this very Tango, that Argentinean striker Mario Kempes slammed into the back of the net six times on his team’s journey to the trophy at the River Plate Stadium.
The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina who became the fifth team (after Uruguay, Italy, England, and West Germany), to be both hosts and world champions.
Kopanya – FIFA Confederations Cup.
Adidas, for the first time ever, created a match ball specifically designed for a FIFA Confederations Cup. The name of the ball and its unusual design paid tribute to 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup hosts, South Africa.
Official Match Ball
‘Kopanya’ was unveiled as the Official Match Ball of the 2009 tournament in front of a roaring crowd as South Africa faced off against Africa’s Indomitable Lions, Cameroon, in the annual Nelson Mandela Challenge Match.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ hosts and the African football giants were the first teams to ever set use ‘Kopanya’. At the international friendly which was played at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg. This match precedes the Final Draw for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.
In case you are wondering, the word ‘kopanya’ comes from Southern Sesotho, and literally translated, kopanya means, “join together.”
Adidas Teamgeist III Kopanya
A clear symbol of the first FIFA World Cup on the African continent, Kopanya’s unusual design was inspired by Ndebele artwork.
The complex shapes and black contours are traditional Ndebele elements, and have been fused with the colourful vibrancy that typifies modern Ndebele artists. A silver sheen provides a futuristic touch.
According to the Adidas website , “The design honors tradition while embracing the future – a core value of Adidas. Like its predecessor, the ‘Europass’ (used for UEFA EURO 2008™) the Adidas ‘Kopanya’ provides perfect flight characteristics and allows the players exceptional ball control.”
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